Meet Donte Jackson, facilities manager at Greenleaf Commercial Real Estate (greenleafcommercial.com).
Tell us a little about your business. – We buy, sell, lease, and manage commercial properties. We pride ourselves on keeping a wide variety of commercial space available. Our properties include offices, retail, warehouse, industrial, and land built for suit in the Lincoln area. Greenleaf also offers consulting services, helping current and prospective property owners build and maintain commercial real estate portfolios. We believe in building relationships, and we strive to understand each client’s objectives and develop a strategy to meet their specific needs. Our success occurs when our client’s goals have been achieved.
How did you get started in the business? – I started at Greenleaf looking to further my knowledge in maintenance as well as learn the commercial side of property maintenance.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – I think one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced at Greenleaf so far is walking into a problem that I might have little knowledge or experience in and taking on that challenge head on.
Tell us a little about your family. – I have a 7-year-old son named Zakarii. He is easily the best kid in the world.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Becoming a father. That is the point in life where I made the decision to always put him first and make sure everything I do benefits him.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Riding bikes with my son or fishing with my brothers.
Who inspires you? – I get inspiration from the mentors in my life, most notably my dad. Looking back on the obstacles he’s overcome in his life and looking into the future of where he’s going, it’s hard not to gain inspiration knowing that determination and resilience has rubbed off on me.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – I think it would be in some sort of sports media. Basketball and the NBA have always been my first dream and love.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – The two quotes that will always stick with me and I will always live by are: “Anything lost can be found again, except for time wasted.” – Unknown and “If it isn’t beneficial it’s artificial.” – Timothy Patterson
What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? – Welcome Home Supportive Housing is a nonprofit that I founded to help homeless and near homeless people get the help they need to become better people in the community. Helping people has always been something of the upmost importance to me. Coming from a humbling beginning, I can personally understand the hardships people go through.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – My favorite local Lincoln restaurant comes down to tie. I cannot decide between the great Juice Stop and the mouthwatering Mary Ellen’s Soul Food.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 467-2525; greenleafcommercial.com.